Paper punch



J. A. YERKES Dec. 12, 1950 PAPER PUNCH Filed March 9, 1946 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN A. YER/(E5 WVM ATTORNEYS J. A. YERKES Dec.12, 1950 PAPER PUNCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1946 Ewk sxgp,

INVENTOR JOHN A. YER/ 55 5 Y E N m n A Dec. 12, 1950 YERKEs 2,534,094

PAPER PUNCH Filed March 9, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Q HWY/1MPatented Dec. 12, 1950 Z,534,il94

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE PAPER PUNCH John A. Yerkes, New York, Y.Application March 9, 1946, Serial N0." $33,343

21 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a perforating device and especially to anapparatus for punching a plurality of holes in sheets of paper,cardboard, or similar material.

In filing papers and the like, it usually is necessary to punch aplurality of holes therein for the purpose of allowing insertion ofpaper fastenei's, for insertion of the papers in books, and for otherrelated uses. When papers are to be fastened, it is desirable to centeraccurately the.

holes to be punched and to be able to set the paper punch readily andwith precision in accordance with the particular file or folderinvolved. This invention includes improvements on the device shown incopending application, Serial No. 633,636, filed December 8, 1945, nowPatent Ne. 2,524,582, issued October 3', 1950, although some partsthereof may be used separately therefroin.

In order to produce various arrangements or patterns of holes, it isrequired that the punches be Selectively" operable and arranged so thatthey can be chosen correctly and with ease. In cooperating with theselectively o erable punches, an automatically centering" guide meanscan be provided for holding the paper or stack of papers centrally,regardless of paper width, to insure accuracy in the punching operationand to facilitate selection of the desired pattern of holes to be One ofthe objects of the present invention is to provide a universal apparatusand methodfor spacing holes to be punched or perforated whereinthelpaper ispositioned centrally, regardless of Width, and punchesselected relative to the central point or punch to give the desiredpattern. Pairs of holes equidistant from the center can be punched ancl,if desired, a central hole in addition to the equidistant pairs ofholes". Also various non-standard arrangements can be punched as will bedescribed hereinafter.

Another object of the invention is to provide easily operable selectorbars which are shiftable to selectively engage the desired punches sothat the various combinations can be operated in accordance with thesetting thereof, the bars being carried by an operating handle andslidable therein. When a bar is opposite a punch, operation of thehandle will" cause depression of the punch thereby. When a bar is notopposite a'punch,- the shank of the punch will passupwardly within thehandle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for releasablylocking the selectors in place when they are set, the locking meansserving to properly center the selector opposite a punch. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of gauge barsadjustable transversely on the base to cooperate with the variousselectably oparable punches to provide" the desired combine.

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2 men or pattern of holes. The gauge means is described in detail insaid copending application, Serial No. 633,636.

Another object or the invention is to provide an assembly which can haveparts made by stamping and the base formed with indentations 0i bosseswhich be used for bearing surfaces for the various com onents. The punchdescribed herein can be economically and easily manufactured and will bestrong structurally.

Other objects of the invention will become aparent from follow lgdescriptibh and drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a punch with the handl in open position and theselectors set for operating three of the punches.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken generally along the line 2-2 or Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevaucn witnpart of the hen-- dle and bracket brokenaway, the handle being imposition just before a punch is depressed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 4--4 of Fig.1 showing details of the gauge pivot. i

Fig. 5 is a front view of Fig. 1, with part of the bracket brokentc showthe punches and the front of the basebroken to show the gauges and tray.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of thepunches after it has been operated by the handle.

V Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line 1 -4 of Fig. 6.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, the base I can be formed bystamping from a suitable pi'eee'of sheet nieta'l, although, of course,the base may be made from a casting, a die-casting, or from materialshaped in other manners. Bracket 2 may be made from a fiat piece ofmetal formed to the shape shown, the various parts being fastehd byspat-welding or inany suitable manner. Base I may have: raised portionsor pads 21 formed'th'ere'on so that the front edge 22 (Fig. 2) thereofwill serve as a stop for the paper to be punched, the distancefrom theline of punches f6 l'i 'fi of sto s ib'e'il'ig that which it is desiredto space theholes from the edge of the paper. The pad also will-"- raisethe bracket above the top face of the" base seas to provide a slot forthe papers.

'* Bracket 2' they have apertures 23 out therein for the purpose. offacilitating" assembly and for light ening the structureand' hinges 24formed integral therewith for holding handle hinge pin 45. A pluralityof lpun-ches (Figs; 1 and 5) 2t, 21, 21, 2s; 2s", 29*, 29" 30, at, 3|,3| are carried in the respective apertures 32, 33 (Figs. 2, 6; and 7)formed inbracket 2. Corresponding die aper tures 34 are provided" inalignment with each of the punches, s'aid die apertures 34 communica mgwith tray 35'.

For purposes of simplicity, only one of the punches will be described.Each punch comprises a shank having a groove cut therein for receivingsplit washer 36, (Figs. 2, 6, and 7), said washer having a slot so thatit may be slid into said groove in the punch shank. Spring 31 isprovided for normally urging the punch upwardly and into inoperativeposition, said spring engaging said split washer. In assembling thepunch, the shank may be passed through apertures 32, 33 and through aspring 31 temporarily held aligned with the apertures and then the splitwasher 36 put into place. The various punches are located longitudinallyof the base predetermined distances from the center line A--A (Fig. ofthe mid-point of the punches or punch in a manner and for a reason whichwill be described hereafter.

Handle or depressor 3 preferably is made the shape shown or a structureequivalent thereto so as to procure the necessary strength to preventbending thereof when the punches are operated. Handle 3 has a guide bar38 fastened thereto, said guide bar having an overhanging portion orledge 39 spaced from the surface of handle 3 and forming a guide channeltherewith.

lhe selectors for operating selectively the various punches are shapedso that one end fits into the space between ledge 39 and cover it, theother end of the selectors being guided by wall Al of the handle. Theselectors l5 may be of various shapes but preferably are made fromrectangular stock and should be of sufiicient width so that they willslide longitudinally of the handle with ease. Each of the selectors hasa detent i2 placed in an aperture 43 in the end thereof, spring 24normally urging the detent outwardly.

Depressions 45 (Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 7) are provided in the handleopposite the various punches so that as a selector is movedlongitudinally of the handle, the detents will enter a selecteddepression and retain the selectors in position. The detents also may beshaped in conjunction with the depression so as to assist in centering aselector relative to a selected punch. The end of the detents anddepressions are so shaped that the selectors may be moved to anypredetermined positioner or may be spaced between two punches so thatthe selector becomes inoperative. The selectors as positioned in Fig. 1are arranged to be over punches 26, 3|, and 3 I so that three holes canbe punched which will be spaced in accordance with the predetermineddistances between said three punches.

Referring to Fig. 3, the handle is shown in operative position with aselector contacting one of the punches. Further movement of the handledownwardl will cause a punch contacting a selector to be moveddownwardly against the pressure of the punch spring, thereby punching ahole in piece of paper located under the punches. It is apparent thatthe punches located between the selectors, such as punch 30 in Fig. '7,will not have the upper ends thereof contacted and will not be operated,the upper ends of said punches merely entering into the open space inhandle .3 between selectors or into the space in the path of saidselectors.

A pair of gauge bars 4 and 5 are mounted slidably in base I, said barspreferably being stamped from a fiat piece of stock. Rack or gear teeth46 are formed therein and preferably stop short of either end of thebar. Ends 4? are bent upwardly and formed at their leading edges 48 withan outwardly flaring portion so as to assist holding friction spring 8.

in guiding a piece of paper between the upstand ing flanges 47.Indentations 49 may be formed in base i to serve as bearings for thegauge bars. The flanges 47 can be arranged (Fig. 3) so that the loweredges 60 thereof will pass over the top surface of the base I andthus'allow the gauge to be moved to accommodate paper of relativelynarrow width.

Pinion 6 (Figs. 2 and 4) is mounted between gauge bars 4 and 5 so as toengage the rack teeth of both of said bars, a pivot pin I l beingprovided for supporting the pinion and a friction device or spring 8. Ahexagonal or other similar shaped aperture 52 may be formed in the topof base i, said aperture not passing entirely through the base and thusproviding a shoulder for supporting pivot I4. Shank 53 passes throughthe reduced aperture 59 of the base and the aperture 59 of pinion 6,said pinion being rotatable'on circular shank 53. A further reducedshank portion 54 depends from circular shank 53 and has a flattenedportion thereon for nonrotatably Washers 55 and 56 are used to space thevarious parts and the pivot may have the head 51 thereof riveted over soas to hold the parts in place. The ends of the friction spring 8frictionally engage gauge bars 4 and 5 and serve to hold said gauge barsagainst the underside of the top face of base I, thus serving to providethe necessary friction to prevent accidental displacement of the gaugebars after the are set and to take up play in the parts.

The device may be used for punching various combinations or patterns ofholes in paper, there being certain standard distances and grouping ofholes in various filing systems now in existence, although it is to beunderstood, of course, that the device may be constructed to fit anyparticular combination of holes and is not limited to that shown.

In Fig. 1, index numerals for the punches are indicated in heavy ink,said numerals being stamped or otherwise affixed to the base I and thebracket 2. In order to diiferentiate from reference numerals herein, theindex numerals are enclosed in quotation marks.

In the form shown, the distances between the center punch and the otherpunches may be as Several methods of use of the invention will bedescribed, the arrangement being such that practically an pattern can bemade.

If a sample punched sheet of unknown width is available, the sheet canbe centered b means of the gauge bars 4 and 5, said gauge bars beingmovable inwardly and outwardly together due to the bars beinginterconnected by pinion t. The selectors can be set by observing thepunches in alignment with the holes of the punched sheet. The paper tobe punched then can be inserted and the handle operated which will causecon tact of the selected punches with the set selectors. set thereforwill merely pass upwardly into the space within the handle. 7 r

Y W hen the distance between the holes is known, the punches can be setwithout using a sample sheet. If a sheet is to have two holes located 2%The top of punches not having a selector 5, inches apart, the twopunches marked '1 (27, 21) may have a selector set opposite each one. Apiece of paper then can be inserted under the punches and the gauge barsmoved so as to touch the edges of the sheets which will center the same.Any other combination can be set quickly in this manner.

The selectors may be grasped by the fingers and moved until a detentsnaps into place at a point when a selector is opposite the desiredpunch which will automatically center the same in relation to a punch.When only two holes are to be punched, the third selector may be placedbetween two punches so that the third selector will be inoperative. Asmentioned previously, the inoperative punch shanks will pass up withinthe handle in the space or path wherein the selectors are slidable.Preferably an unused selector may be secured at either of depressions:i5a or 45b (Fig. l) where it is releasably secured until needed.

When the spacing is known and the punches are arranged as describedherein, the punches may be set in accordance with the following table:

For 2 Holes, inches apart, use 1 81 1 For 2 Holes, l inches apart, use 2& 2

For 2 Holes, 5 inches apart, use 3 & 3 For 2 Holes 7 inches apart, use 48; a For 2 Holes, 8 inches apart, use5 81 "5 For 3 Holes, 2% inchesapart, use 3, 8a 3 For 3 Holes, 3 inches apart, use l, 0, & "3" For 3Holes, 4 inches apart, use 5, 0, &

This table may be stamped or imprinted on the base or handle of thepunch or accompany the punch in some suitable manner.

If five holes are required 1% inches apart, the paper can be centered bymeans of the gauge and the selectors moved so as to be opposite 0, 1",and 3 punches on the left side. The paper then can be punched and turnededge for edge and again punched, the center punch entering thepreviously punched center hole.

In'the event that holes are of non-standard spacing and other than thatprovided, such as for example, two holes 6 inches apart, the paper isnot centered, and one punch is selected such as 3 (or 29) on the leftside. A sheet previously marked or punched is then held against the leftgauge only and the gauge moved until the mark or hole is opposite punch3. A piece of paper to be punched then can be inserted under the punchesand the handle depressed following which the paper is turned over edgefor edge and punched again. This will then provide two properly centeredholes 6 inches apart. A similar procedure can be used for three, four ormore holes.

Various combinations of punches, spacings of punches, and other detailsof construction may be used, and it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications other than those specifically mentioned may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a desk type paper perforator, a base; a bank of a plurality offixedly located reciprocable punches carried by said base and arrangedsymmetrically relative to a central punch at the mid-point of said bank;a centering guide having interconnected elements adapted to center themid-points of sheets of difierent widths relative to said central" punchoisai'd bank; and a selec- 6 tor carrying handle, said selectors beingadiusta able to select punches to be operated by said handle to produceany one of a plurality or die sired pattern of holes in said sheetsrelative to said mid-point of said blank.

2. In a desk type paper a base; is bank of a plurality of fixedlylocated reciprocahle punches carried by said base and arrangedsymmetrically relative to the mid-point of saidbank; a centering guidehaving interconnected elements adapted to center the mid-points ofsheets of diiierent widths at a predetermined location relative to saidmid-point of said bank; and an operating handle pivoted on said basehaving punch operating selectors t "eon, said selectors beingpositionable over various of said punches to produce desired patterns ofholes relative to said mid-point in centered sheets when handle isoperated.

3. In a desk type paper perforator, a base; a bank of a plurality offixedly located reciprocable punches including a central punch at themidpoint of said bank carried by said base and ar-' ranged symmetricallyrelative to the. mid-point of said bank; a centering guide havingelements adapted to center the mid-points of sheets of difierent widthsrelative to said central punch mid-point; an operating handle pivoted onsaid base and having selectors slidable thereon, said selectors beingselectively positionable over said punches to produce any one of aplurality of desired odd or even number hole patterns symmetricalrelative to said mid-point patterns of holes in centered sheetsthereunder relative to said mid-points when said handle is operated; anddetent means for yieldably holding said selectors in operative position.

4. In a desk type paper perrorator, a base having a plurality of dieholes arranged in a substantially straight row; a depressor member;guides for said punches fixed to said base, a plurality of reciprocablepunches fixedly aligned with said die holes and supported by saidguides; and a plurality of selector members readily shift able in a pathsubstantially parallel to said row of punches and selectively alignablewith several different punches, selectors aligned with preselectedpunches being operable to depress said preselected punches when thedepressor member is depressed, said path providing a clearance spaceinto which all other punches can project so as to remain non-operativewhen the depressor is depressed whereby any one of a plurality of apreselected pattern of holes is produced.

5. In a desk type paper periorator, a base having a plurality of dieholes arranged in a substantially straight row symmetrically relatedwith a central die hole; a depressor member; a punch guide fixed to saidbase; a plurality of reciprocable punches fixedly aligned with said dieholes and supported by said guide; and a plurality of selector membersshiftable in a path substantially parallel to said row of punches andselectively alignable with several diiferent punches, selectors alignedwith preselected punches being operable to depress said preselectedpunches when the depressor member is depressed to provide desiredpatterns or holes, said path providing with and without the centralpunch for said central die hole clearance space into which all otherpunches. can project so as to remain non-operative when the depressor isdepressed whereby a preselected. pattern of holes is produced.

6. In a desk type perforator, a base having a plurality of die holesarranged in a substantially straight row symmetrically related with acen tral die hole; a handle; a punch guide fixed to said base; aplurality of reciprocable punches fixedly aligned with said die holesand supported by said guide; and a plurality of selector members housedin said handle and shiftable in a path substantially parallel to saidrow of punches and selectively alignable with several different punchesto punch any one of several patterns of holes, selectors aligned withpreselected punches being operable to depress said preselected puncheswhen the handle member is operated to provide desired patterns of holeswith odd or even numbers and optionally including said central hole,said path providing a clearance space into which all other punches canproject so as to remain non-operative when the handle is operatedwhereby a preselected pattern of holes is produced.

7. In a desk ty-pe perforator, a base, a handle, a bank of amultiplicity of punches including a centrally located punch, a pluralityof selector members shiftable to preselected positions in alignment withpreselected punches which are to be operated to punch selected patternswith and Without said central punch, and latching means at each of saidpreselected positions cooperating with latching means on said selectormembers to position and releasably hold said selectors at saidpreselected positions.

8. In a desk type perforator, a base, a handle, a bank of a multiplicityof punches equidistantly located on each side of the central punch, aplurality of selector members shiftable to preselected positions inalignment with preselected punches which are to be operated to producepatterns with even numbers of holes without said central punch andodd'numbers of holes with said central punch, and latching means at eachof said preselected positions cooperating with a friction type lockingmeans on said selector members to position and releasably hold saidselectors at said predetermined positions.

9. In a desk type perforator, a base, a handle, a bank of a multiplicityof punches, a plurality of selector members shiftable along said handleto preselected positions in alignment with preselected punches which areto be operated, latching means at each of said preselected positions,and a spring urged friction type lock cooperating with said latchingmeans to position and releasably hold said selectors at said preselectedpositions.

10. In a desk type perforator, a base, a handle, a bank of amultiplicity of punches, a plurality of selector members shiftable alongsaid handle to preselected positions in alignment with preselectedpunches which are to be operated, latching means including indentationsaligned with each punch, and a spring urged latch on each selectoradapted to engage in said indentations to position and releasably holdsaid selectors at said preselected positions. 7

11, In a desk type paper perforator, a plurality of punches; selectorspositionable to selectively operate said punches; a handle slidablycarrying said selectors, said handle having walls defining a'groove forguiding one end of said selectors and a wall for guiding the other endof said selectors; and detent means for releasably holdin said selectorsat selected points.

12. In a desk type paper perforator, a plurality of punches; selectorbars positionable to seleci e y Operate pun h s; a han le sndably carring said selectors, said handle having walls defining a groove forguiding one end of said selector bars; a wall for guiding the other endof said selector bars; and spring pressed detents carried by saidselectors cooperable with depressions in one of said walls forreleasably holding said selectors in selected punch operating positions.

13. In a desk type paper perforator, a plurality of punches; anoperating handle having a track for carrying selectors; and punchoperating selectors slidable in said track, said selectors beingconstructed and arranged so that when over a punch, operation of thehandle will operate the punch and punch shanks not to be operated willpass into a clearance space provided by said track within said handle.

14. In a desk type paper perforator, a base; a bank of a plurality ofselectively operable punches and a central punch mounted on said baseand said punches being equidistantly spaced from said central punch; apair of co-operating gauge members oppositely movable inwardly andoutwardly relative to said base so as to center the mid-points of sheetsat the mid-point of said central punch; and an operating handle slidto amid-point of said punches; a central punch at said mid-point; a pair ofgauge members having rack teeth thereon, said gauge members beingslidably mounted on said base; a pinion mounted between said gauge barsand engaging both racks so that the gauge bars will be moved oppositelyrelative to each other to accommodate and center the mid-point of paperof varying widths relative to the mid-point of said punches; and meansto select the central punch to be operated to produce a desired patternof holes optionally including said central punch.

16. In a desk type paper perforator, a base; a plurality of selectivelyoperable punches equi distantly located relative to a mid-point andhaving a central punch at said mid-point; a handle having a tracktherein; selector bars slidably mounted in said track; detent meansadapted to yieldably hold said selector bars in selected punch operatingpositions so as to produce any one of a desired pattern of holes of evennumbers of holes without said central punch and with odd numbers ofholes with said central punch; a pair of gauge members having rack teeththereon, said gauge members being slidably mounted on said base; apinion mounted between said gauge bars and engaging both racks so thatthe gauge bars will be moved oppositely relative to each other toaccommodate and center paper of varying widths relative to said punches.

17. In a desk type perforator, a base; a bank of a plurality ofselectively operable punches symmetrically located relative to a centralpunch; a handle; selectors positionable to selectively operatepredetermined patterns of said punches when said handle is operated; aguide bar and pinion system including a pair of cooperating guidemembers having rack teeth thereon, said guide members being mounted onsaid base and V oppositely movable relative to each other and said base;a pinion rotatably mounted on said base interconnecting said rack teeth;and means engaging said guide and pinion system preventing rotation ofsaid pinion except when said guide bars are being adjusted, said guidemembers centering the mid-point of sheets to be punched substantially inregistry with said central punch.

18. In a desk type perforator having a bank of a plurality of fixedlylocated selectively operable punches mounted on a base, said punchesbeing located in pairs equidistantly positioned on either side of acentral punch on said base, a depressor member having a plurality ofslidable means thereon operable to selectively operate punches when saiddepressor member is actuated, and a pair of interconnected sheetcentering guides movable on said base automatically centering sheetsrelative to said central punches, each of said guides having a paperengaging portion, each of said paper engaging portions being movablebetween positions between the ends of the other guide and positionsbeyond the end of said other guide, so that any one of a plurality ofindependent patterns of holes with and without a central hole can bepunched, said holes being equidistantly spaced from the central punch.

19. In a desk type perforator, a base, a bank of a plurality ofselectively operable punches symmetrically located relative to a centralpunch, said punches being fixedly mounted on said base, a punchdepressor member mounted on said base and having punch activating meansthereon selectively movable to activate punches equidistantly spaced oneither side of said central punch and with and without said centralpunch, and a pair of cooperating interconnected sheet centering guidesmovable on said base to automatically center sheets relative to saidcentral punch, each of said guides having a paper engaging portionmovable beyond the sides of said base, each of said paper engagingportions being movable between positions between the ends of the otherguide and positions beyond the end of said other guide.

20. In a desk type perforator, a base, a bank of a plurality ofselectively operable punches sym- 1o metrically located relative to acentral punch, said punches being fixedly mounted on said base, a punchdepressor member mounted on said base and having punch activating meansthereon selectively movable to activate punches equidistantly spaced oneither side of said central punch and with and without said centralpunch, and a pair of cooperating interconnected sheet centering guidesmovable on said base to automatically center sheets relative to saidcentral punch, each of said guides having teeth therein with aninterconnecting pinion, each of said guides having a paper engagingportion movable beyond the sides of said base, each of said paperengaging portions being movable between positions between the ends ofthe other guide and positions beyond the end of said other guide.

2'1. In a desk type perforator, a base, fixedly located reciprocablepunches mounted on said base including a central punch, a pivoted levermounted on said base for operating said punches, and a pair ofcooperating interconnected sheet centering guides movable on said baseto automatically center sheets relative to said central punch, saidguides having gear teeth engaging an interconnecting pinion, each ofsaid guides having a paper engaging portion movable beyond the sides ofsaid base, each of said paper engaging portions being movable betweenpositions between the ends of the other guide and positions beyond theend of said other guide.

7 JOHN A. YERKES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,205,257 Pitt Nov. 21, 19161,424,895 Girard et al. Aug. 8, 1922 1,655,315 Finley Jan. 3, 19282,327,646 Hutchinson Aug. 24, 1943 2,389,105 Kern Nov. 13, 19452,368,790 Unger Feb. 6, 1945 2,445,093 VonCseh July 13, 1948 Certificateof Correction December 12, 1950 Patent No. 2,534,094

JOHN A. YERKES It is hereby certified that error appears in the printedspecification-of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfollows:

Column 5, line 32, for the numeral 3, second occurrence, read 4; columncolumn 8, line '14, for punches read 6, line 5, for the Word blank readban-7c, central punch; line 45, for central punch read punches;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOfiice.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of May, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

